Shipping and Returns

Shipping, Delivery, and Returns Policy

Last updated: July 27, 2026

This Shipping, Delivery, and Returns Policy applies to products purchased from ETC Montessori through etcmontessorionline.com. It covers:

Digital products delivered electronically.
Physical products, including Nienhuis Montessori and Educo materials.
Domestic and international shipments.
Returns, damaged products, shortages, cancellations, and purchase-order transactions.

By placing an order, the purchaser agrees to this policy and ETC Montessori’s other applicable Terms and Conditions. Product-specific terms shown on a product page or in a written agreement will control if they differ from this general policy.

Nothing in this policy limits a right or remedy that cannot legally be waived.

Policy at a Glance

Product Type	Delivery	Return Eligibility	Important Deadline
Digital products	Electronic download	Non-returnable and non-refundable	Two downloads within five calendar days
Nienhuis and Educo physical products	Parcel carrier or freight	New, unused, and unopened products may be returned with authorization	Return authorization must be requested within 14 calendar days of delivery
Damaged or incomplete physical orders	Parcel carrier or freight	Repair, replacement, or other approved resolution	Report within 72 hours of delivery
Discounted bundles	Parcel carrier or freight	Full-bundle returns preferred; partial returns may be approved	Request authorization within 14 calendar days

1. Order Acceptance

An order confirmation acknowledges that ETC Montessori has received the order. It does not necessarily mean that the order has been accepted for fulfillment.

An order is accepted after ETC Montessori has:

Verified the order information.
Approved or received the required payment.
Confirmed product availability.
Received any information needed to process and ship the order.

ETC Montessori may refuse or cancel an order before shipment or before digital access is provided because of payment issues, suspected fraud, inventory errors, pricing errors, product discontinuation, shipping restrictions, or other reasonable business concerns.

If ETC Montessori cancels a paid order before fulfillment, the amount collected for the canceled and unfulfilled items will be refunded.

2. Product Information and Natural Variations

Product descriptions, photographs, illustrations, dimensions, weights, colors, and other specifications are provided as accurately as reasonably possible.

Minor variations in wood grain, color, finish, texture, dimensions, weight, or other characteristics that are natural, customary, or technically unavoidable do not constitute defects. This is especially applicable to wooden Montessori materials and products manufactured from natural materials.

Verbal statements made by an employee or representative do not modify an order or this policy unless confirmed in writing by an authorized ETC Montessori representative.

3. Physical-Product Availability and Processing

Product availability shown on the website is provided for informational purposes and is not guaranteed. Processing and shipment times are calculated from the date ETC Montessori accepts the order, receives all necessary information, and receives or approves any required payment.

Orders may experience longer processing times during peak purchasing seasons, including spring, summer, and the beginning of the school year.

Some products may be:

In stock and ready for shipment.
Temporarily out of stock.
Backordered.
Specially sourced from a manufacturer or supplier.
Shipped separately from another fulfillment location.

ETC Montessori may fulfill an order through multiple or partial shipments. Customers placing purchase orders may be invoiced for each partial shipment after it has shipped and been verifiably received.

4. Shipping Estimates and Delays

Shipment and delivery dates displayed during checkout or provided in an order confirmation are estimates unless ETC Montessori expressly guarantees a date in writing.

“Shipment” means that the merchandise has been placed in the possession of the shipping carrier. Delivery time after shipment is controlled by the carrier and may be affected by weather, transportation interruptions, customs processing, incorrect addresses, restricted-access locations, or other circumstances outside ETC Montessori’s reasonable control.

ETC Montessori will maintain a reasonable basis for any shipment timeframe it provides. If ETC Montessori cannot ship within the stated timeframe—or within the period required by applicable law when no timeframe is stated—we will provide the customer with an appropriate option to:

Consent to a revised shipment date;
Continue waiting when an exact date cannot reasonably be provided; or
Cancel the affected unshipped merchandise and receive a refund of the applicable payment.

Customers who consent to an indefinite delay may cancel the unshipped portion of the order before shipment, subject to applicable law.

5. Shipping Charges and Packaging

Shipping charges are calculated using factors that may include:

Product weight and dimensions.
Number of packages.
Shipping destination.
Delivery method.
Carrier rates.
Residential, commercial, school, or limited-access delivery requirements.
Freight, lift-gate, inside-delivery, appointment, or other special services.

Product weights may be rounded to the next whole pound when required by the shipping carrier.

Orders weighing more than 150 pounds, or orders containing oversized products, may be shipped by freight at ETC Montessori’s discretion.

ETC Montessori will determine the appropriate packaging method unless special packaging arrangements have been approved in writing. Special packaging, handling, or delivery requirements may result in additional charges.

Original packaging materials are not returnable for credit. Customers should retain all cartons, packing materials, labels, and inserts until the order has been inspected and confirmed complete.

6. Shipping Addresses and Delivery Information

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate billing address, shipping address, telephone number, email address, and delivery instructions.

Orders are processed and shipped using the information submitted with the order. ETC Montessori is not responsible for delays or misdelivery resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information provided by the customer.

The customer is responsible for carrier charges associated with:

Address corrections.
Delivery redirects.
Repeated delivery attempts.
Storage fees.
Returned or refused shipments.
Reshipment to a corrected address.
Special delivery services requested after shipment.

Submitting an address-change request does not guarantee that the carrier will be able to redirect a package already in transit.

7. Freight Deliveries

Customers receiving freight shipments should inspect the shipment before signing the carrier’s delivery receipt.

Visible damage, missing cartons, crushed packaging, punctures, or other irregularities should be clearly noted on the delivery receipt before the shipment is accepted. When practical, customers should photograph the shipment while it is still on the carrier’s vehicle.

Signing a freight receipt without noting visible damage may affect ETC Montessori’s ability to submit a carrier claim.

Refusing a shipment without first contacting ETC Montessori may result in return-freight charges, redelivery charges, storage fees, and applicable restocking fees unless the refusal was authorized because of substantial visible damage or an ETC Montessori shipping error.

8. Damaged Products, Defects, and Shortages

Customers must inspect physical products promptly after delivery.

Visible shipping damage, missing products, missing components, or order shortages must be reported to ETC Montessori within 72 hours of delivery. The report should include:

The ETC Montessori order number.
The affected product name or item number.
A description of the damage or shortage.
Photographs of the product.
Photographs of the shipping carton and packing materials.
Photographs of shipping labels and any visible carrier damage.
A copy or photograph of the freight delivery receipt when applicable.

Customers must retain the product, cartons, packing materials, and shipping labels until ETC Montessori or the carrier confirms that they may be discarded.

Failure to report visible damage or shortages within 72 hours may prevent ETC Montessori from submitting a carrier claim and may result in the claim being denied, to the extent permitted by law. This reporting requirement does not eliminate non-waivable legal rights or an applicable written warranty covering a latent defect that could not reasonably have been discovered during the initial inspection.

If ETC Montessori confirms a covered defect, shortage, or fulfillment error, ETC Montessori may, at its discretion:

Supply a missing component.
Repair the affected product.
Replace the affected product or component.
Provide another resolution required by applicable law.

When the problem results from an ETC Montessori fulfillment error or a verified covered defect, ETC Montessori will provide return instructions and, when necessary, cover authorized return-shipping costs.

Do not return a damaged or incorrect product without authorization.

9. Lost or Misdelivered Shipments

Customers should contact ETC Montessori promptly if tracking information shows that a shipment was delivered but it cannot be located, or if tracking has stopped updating for an unusual period.

ETC Montessori may require the customer to:

Confirm the complete shipping address.
Check receiving areas, mailrooms, neighboring locations, and school offices.
Contact the carrier.
Complete a written lost-package statement.
Cooperate with a carrier investigation.

ETC Montessori will evaluate replacement or refund requests according to the carrier’s findings, the circumstances of the shipment, and applicable law.

10. Return Eligibility for Physical Products

New, unused, unassembled, and unopened physical products may be eligible for return when the customer requests authorization within 14 calendar days after confirmed delivery.

All returns require prior authorization and a valid Return Merchandise Authorization (“RMA”) number. Products returned without authorization may be refused and returned to the customer at the customer’s expense.

To qualify for return, the product must:

Be unused and in resalable condition.
Be in its original manufacturer packaging.
Include all components, instructions, accessories, and inserts.
Be packaged securely to prevent return-shipping damage.
Include the assigned RMA number and requested documentation.

Authorized returns made for reasons other than an ETC Montessori error are subject to a 25% restocking and shipping-recovery fee.

Original shipping, freight, handling, special-delivery, customs, and related charges are non-refundable.

The customer is responsible for authorized return shipping and insurance when the return is not caused by an ETC Montessori error or verified covered defect.

Return authorization is not a guarantee that a refund will be issued. Returned merchandise will be inspected before approval.

11. Non-Returnable Physical Products

The following physical products are not eligible for return unless they were shipped incorrectly or have a verified covered defect:

Products returned without prior authorization.
Products for which return authorization was not requested within 14 calendar days of delivery.
Opened, used, assembled, altered, marked, or damaged products.
Products missing original packaging, components, instructions, or accessories.
Products damaged because of inadequate return packaging.
Printed educational materials that have been cut, laminated, written on, prepared for display, or otherwise altered.
Products identified as non-returnable or final sale on the product page or written quotation.
Products that cannot be resold for health, safety, licensing, or intellectual-property reasons.

These restrictions are subject to rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

12. Incorrect or Defective Physical Products

If ETC Montessori shipped an incorrect product or confirms that a physical product has a covered manufacturing defect, ETC Montessori will determine the appropriate remedy, which may include repair, replacement, supplying missing parts, or another remedy required by law.

ETC Montessori will provide return instructions and cover authorized return-shipping costs when the return results from our confirmed error.

Warranty coverage does not apply to damage caused by:

Misuse or improper handling.
Failure to follow product instructions.
Improper assembly or installation.
Negligence.
Unauthorized repair or modification.
Ordinary wear and tear.
Improper storage or environmental conditions.
Circumstances outside ETC Montessori’s or the manufacturer’s reasonable control.

Any applicable written Nienhuis Montessori or Educo manufacturer warranty remains subject to that manufacturer’s terms and limitations.

13. Bundles and Package Discounts

Bundles and package deals purchased at a discounted price should be returned in full to qualify for a refund.

If ETC Montessori agrees to accept a partial bundle return, the return will be subject to:

The standard 25% restocking and shipping-recovery fee;
An additional $25 administrative and processing fee; and
Recalculation of the retained products at their applicable non-bundle prices.

Any refund will be calculated only after the returned products have been received and inspected.

Approval of a partial bundle return is discretionary unless otherwise required by law.

14. Return Refunds

Approved refunds for physical-product returns will be issued to the original payment method whenever reasonably possible.

Refunds are calculated after deducting applicable:

Restocking and shipping-recovery fees.
Non-refundable original shipping charges.
Return-shipping charges paid by ETC Montessori on the customer’s behalf.
Missing-component or product-damage deductions.
Partial-bundle administrative charges.
Bundle-price adjustments.

ETC Montessori generally initiates an approved return refund within 10 business days after the returned merchandise has been received, inspected, and approved. Banks, credit-card issuers, and payment processors may require additional time to post the credit.

15. Digital Product Delivery

Digital products are delivered electronically and are not physically shipped.

After checkout has been successfully completed, payment has been approved, and the order has been marked Complete:

The customer receives access to the applicable download link.
The download link remains active for five consecutive calendar days.
Each purchased file may be downloaded up to two times during that period.
The link expires after five calendar days or after both downloads have been used, whichever occurs first.
Expired links will not be reactivated or extended.
The product must be repurchased if additional time or downloads are required.

Customers are responsible for downloading files promptly and saving them to a secure location. ETC Montessori is not responsible for files that are deleted, misplaced, overwritten, damaged, or lost after download.

16. Digital Product Returns and Refunds

All digital-product sales are final, non-returnable, and non-refundable, except where otherwise required by law.

Refunds will not be issued because a customer:

Failed to download the file within five calendar days.
Used both permitted downloads.
Purchased the wrong product or license.
Expected a physical product.
Cannot open or print the file because of the customer’s equipment or software.
No longer needs the product.
Misplaced or deleted the downloaded file.

Customers should review the product description, file type, system requirements, included materials, and license selection before completing the purchase.

17. Digital Product Licenses

Digital products are offered under two primary license options:

An Individual License is intended for an individual homeschool purchaser using the product within one household.
An Extended License is required for schools, homeschool co-ops, multi-family homeschool groups, and other institutional or group use.

Each physical school building must purchase its own Extended License. An Extended License purchased by a district or organization does not permit unrestricted sharing across multiple school buildings or campuses.

Additional licensing requirements are provided in the Digital Product Terms and License Conditions.

18. Purchase Orders for Digital Products

Purchase orders are not accepted as payment for digital products.

If a digital-product order is designated as being paid through a purchase order:

The order will remain in Pending or Processing status.
Digital access will not be provided while payment remains outstanding.
Full payment must be mailed to:

ETC Montessori
904 Chisos Street
Webster, Texas 77598

The payment should include the ETC Montessori order number.

After payment has been received and the check has cleared, ETC Montessori will mark the order Complete and activate the download links.

The five-day download period begins only after the order has been marked Complete and download access has been activated.

19. Purchase Orders for Physical Products

Purchase orders for eligible physical products are accepted only from:

United States public school districts.
Public schools.
Approved charter schools.
Other organizations that ETC Montessori has approved in writing for purchase-order terms.

Standard purchase-order terms are Net 30 unless ETC Montessori approves different terms in writing.

ETC Montessori does not accept purchase orders from schools located outside the United States.

Customers using purchase orders may be billed separately for partial shipments after those items have shipped and been verifiably received.

Submitting a purchase order does not require ETC Montessori to accept the order or extend credit. ETC Montessori may require verification, references, prepayment, or other documentation before approving an account.

20. Cancellations and Order Changes

Customers should submit cancellation requests as soon as possible, preferably within one hour after placing the order.

Cancellation requests are not guaranteed. ETC Montessori uses automated order-processing and fulfillment systems, and an order may enter processing or shipment before the request is reviewed.

Physical-product orders that have already shipped cannot be canceled. They must be handled according to the applicable return policy, and the customer remains responsible for non-refundable shipping charges and applicable return fees.

Completed digital-product orders cannot be canceled after download access has been provided.

Orders cannot be changed directly through the website after submission. Customers who need additional products should place a separate order. Address-change requests should be submitted immediately but cannot be guaranteed.

21. International Shipping

ETC Montessori may ship eligible products internationally, subject to product, carrier, manufacturer, destination, and legal restrictions.

International customers are responsible for reviewing destination-country requirements before ordering. Unless expressly included during checkout or in a written quotation, the recipient is responsible for:

Customs duties.
Import taxes.
Value-added taxes.
Brokerage charges.
Customs-clearance fees.
Destination inspection or storage fees.
Other government or carrier charges.

Customs processing may delay delivery and is outside ETC Montessori’s control.

Some countries or regions may require minimum order values or restrict the importation of particular educational products. ETC Montessori may cancel an order that cannot legally or commercially be shipped to the requested destination.

International shipping charges and government fees are generally non-refundable after shipment.

22. Tax-Exempt Organizations

Tax-exempt organizations and school districts must provide a valid tax-exemption certificate and receive account approval before placing an order without tax.

Tax-exempt status is associated with the customer account and email address. Organizations using multiple buyers or purchasing agents may need each buyer’s email address connected to the approved tax-exempt account.

Customers checking out as guests cannot be added automatically to the tax-exempt list. Orders placed before tax-exempt status has been approved may be assessed applicable tax.

23. Payment Methods and Bank Transfers

ETC Montessori accepts the payment methods displayed during checkout.

Customers wishing to make a wire transfer must contact ETC Montessori for banking instructions. A $25 bank-processing fee may be added to wire-transfer payments. No additional ETC Montessori processing fee is assessed for approved ACH payments.

Orders will not be released when payment has been declined, reversed, disputed, dishonored, or otherwise not completed, unless ETC Montessori has approved written credit terms.

24. Ownership of Unpaid Physical Products

To the extent permitted by law, title to physical products supplied under approved credit or purchase-order terms remains with ETC Montessori or the applicable supplier until all amounts due for those products have been paid.

Until payment is complete, the purchaser must safeguard the products from loss, damage, misuse, or unauthorized transfer.

Risk of loss during transit and after delivery will be determined according to applicable law, the shipment terms, and the carrier’s documented delivery status.

25. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, ETC Montessori will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from an order, shipment, delay, return, download, or product use.

When liability cannot be excluded, ETC Montessori’s aggregate liability relating to a product will not exceed the amount paid for the specific affected product.

These limitations do not apply to fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence, personal injury caused by negligence, or any liability or consumer remedy that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

26. Policy Changes

ETC Montessori may revise this policy periodically. Changes become effective when posted unless a later effective date is stated.

The version in effect when an order is accepted will generally govern that order, except where a change is required by law.

27. Contact Information

Return authorization, shipping, damage, shortage, and order questions should be directed to:

ETC Montessori
Email: support@edutc.com
Telephone: 877-409-2929

Do not return merchandise to ETC Montessori, Nienhuis Montessori, Educo, or any fulfillment center until you have received written return authorization and shipping instructions.